Railroad switch adjustment



, 1950 A. F. HUBER 2,497,502

RAILROAD SWITCH ADJUSTMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1945 m. B U m mw T N N .R E wo V T U m Mm A M Y B Feb. 14, 1950 A. F. HUBER RAILROAD SWITCH ADJUSTMENT 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1945 Feb. 14, 1950 HUBER 2,497,502

RAILROAD SWITCH ADJUSTMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24, 1945 I BY WW ATTORNEY vtends to the switch-operative device.

Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILROAD SWITCH ADJUSTMENT Albert F. Huber, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Brake Shoe Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 24, 1945, Serial No. 579,518

' 21 Claims.

tion, a pair of housing members connects the parts of a jointed switch rod. The housing members have suitable recesses or seats cooperating with a channel splice bar and the vertically disposed flat switch rod members are suitably clamped between. The housing members have suitable longitudinal recesses with threaded portions and guide portions to receive a sleeve nut for adjusting the length of the switch rod. Extending through aligned passages in'the housings and in the sleeve nut is the operating rod which exv The operating rod has suitable adjustment nuts fitting into recesses in the housings. A combined weather-protecting and locking cover surrounds tubular extensions on the housings and a hex portion on the sleeve nut to protect and lock the latter against turning.

The invention also consists in certain new and. original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a conventional type of switch with a switch adjustment according to the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal plan section through the adjusting device;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2

illustrating the keyhole seat arrangement for seating the bolts in the housing;

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the housings;" and Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6- -6 of 2 various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but 'they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and. forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the conventional switch construction used for purposes of illustration comprises stock rails 10 and I l and switchpoints l2 and 13, these rails resting upon conventional railroad ties l5; tie plates and spikes are omitted for simplicity of illustration. The stock rails l0 and l l are of standard T-section and the switchpoints l2 and 13 may also be of standard T-section. The rails Ill and 13 may be main line rails and the rails II and [2 may be turn-out or branch line rails.

The switchpoints l2 and I3 are connected by switch rods 16 and I1, two being shown for purposes of illustration, although any suitable number may be used.

The switch rods 16 and I! are made up of the usual flat bar steel with their wider or flat surfaces disposed vertically and their narrower or edge surfaces disposed horizontally. Such switch rods are sometimes referred to as vertica switch rods or as disposed edgewise. Each rod is made in two sections, the sections of rod l6 being connected by the adjusting device 24 and the sections of rod 11 being connected by the adjusting device 25.

The vertically disposed switch rods I6 and I! are connected to their switchpoints l2 and I3 by suitable swivel connections indicated by 22 and 23, described and claimed in Mock Patent No. 2,213,500, dated September 3, 1940. As explained in the patent, these swivel connections include dogs I4 and clips 15 which provide swivel movement about vertical axes between the switch rods and the switchpoints.

For operating the switch, an operating rod I8 is connected to the adjusting device 24, as indicated. The operating rod l8 may extend to any suitable hand or power-driven switch-operating device (not shown), such as a conventional hand .2. p In the following description and in the claims, 5

switchstand or interlocking machine. If desired, an additionalconnecting rod '19 may be-concylindrical bearingportion 39.

adjusting devices 24 and 25 may be used with.

other types of switch rods including so-called horizontal rods where the fiat bar stock is disposed horizontally instead of vertically, and with other types of switchpoint' connections.

Since the adjusting devices 24 and 25 are identical in construction (although they may be adjusted difierently) it will be sufficient to describe in detail only the adjustment 24 which is connected to the switch-operating mechanism. This adjusting device comprises in general a pair of housing or anchor members29 and 38 connected to-theswitch rod sections 25 and 2'! and to a channel splice bar 23 by nut and bolt assemblies; indicated in general by 3| and 32. The two housings 29 and 3B are adjustably connected together by a sleeve nut 33, suitable clearance being provided in the boltholes 65 through which the bolts 58 pass to permit adjustment of the distance between the housings 29 and 33, and thus the length of the switch rod It. The operating red It] passes through aligned openings in the housings 29, 30 and in sleeve nut 33, and has suit- ..able adjustment and lock nuts 35, 31, 45 for providing the proper degree of lost motion between the operating rod'l8 and the adjusting device 24.

The housings 29 and 30 are of similar construction, the main difference beingin the screw threads 38 an'd l3 Which are of opposite hand. Housing 29 has a longitudinal channel running therethrough, part of which is provided with screw threads 38 and an adjacent part with a Parts 38 and 39 cooperate with thesleeve nut 33 which has corresponding threaded and cylindrical portions for a purpose hereinafter describedmore in detail;

Housing 29 isprovided with an inner clearance space 40 and an outer clearance space 4| surrounded by projecting tubular portion, 46 ending Outer recess 4|- seats a tubular adjustment nut 36 having a rounded nose 42 cooperatingwith a corresponding roundedseat on the housing 29; Adjustment nut 36 also has clearance spaces 43 and 44 on opposite sides of a threaded portion 48 which cooperates with the screw threaded operating rod I8. Hex jambnut 45 seats against adjustment nut 36 Whose outer end .has an outer hexagonal surface 48'.

The sleeve nut 33 has oppositely threaded ends cooperating with the oppositely threaded portions 38' and 13 on housings 29 and 30 to provide a turnbuckle effect so that, when a wrench is applied to the hex portion 50, the housings 29 and 3fl-will either be drawn together or spreadapart.

A split sleeve nut cover 5| comprising an upper half and a lower half has an internal hex wall 52 engaging, the external hex on the sleeve nut 33. Bolts 53 tightly clampthe cover 5| around the beaded sea-ling flanges 54 on housings 29,-, 30 to both seal the parts against the weather and to'prevent turning of the sleeve nut 33.

The flanges 54 have arcuate notches 76 in, which fit lugs projecting from the inside surface of the-halves of nut cover 5|, which limit.v to .60 delfees the distancethrough which the nut cover 5| 4 (and hex surface 50) can turn after assembly. The circumferential extent of the notches H5 corresponds to the normal 60 degree relationship of the hex surfaces and is necessary to insure registration of lugs l1 and notches it, regardless of the particular adjusted rotative position of the sleeve nut 33. This makes it unnecessary to ad just sleeve nut 33 to some exact angle to permit fitting of the internal hex surface 52 of the nut cover 5| on the external hex surface 5% on the sleeve nut 33. The lugs H extend axially from inturned, edges 18 of cover 5| to the internal hex surface 52 to take care of the different axial spacing of the housings 29, 3|). The threads 38, 13 are sufliciently fine so that the limited 60 degree movement of the turnbuckle nut 33 causes nosubstantial change in the adjustment of the switchpoints.

Each housing 29 or 30 (Figs. 3-5) is provided with a keyhole slot arrangement having outer recess 55, an undercut space 56 and a recessed flange 57 for seating bolts 53 whose shanks fit the curved recesses of flanges 51 and whose heads 59 seat thereunder. A keeper 6| having curved recesses snugly fits against the shanks 58 to hold the bolts apart.

In insulating plate 52 .with side flanges 59 and end flange Ill seats in the external recess 55 and insulating sleeve 53 surround the bolt shanks 58. An outer insulating plate 64 with side flanges H and end flange 8|! rests on the rod member 26 and thechannel splice bar28 seats over the insulation plate 54 (Fig. 3). The splice bar 28 is provided with clearance boltholes 65 to permit adjusting, as explained hereinafter. Splice plate 66 seats over the channel bar 28 and suitable nuts and lock washers 12 of the nut and bolt assemblies 3| firmly clamp the parts together.

.Thus it will be seen, particularly from Fig. 3,

that the switch rod member 26 seatsbetween the channel splice bar 28 and the housing 23 and is --throw of the switch) and also the .lost motion betweenswitch operating mechanism and the switch. The device also suitably electrically insulates one switchpoint from the other.

It will be understood that for signal purposes it isvery desirable to maintain an exact throw of the track switch. This is difiicult to obtain even in new installations with non-adjustable switch rods because of inaccuracies, due to manufacture, in the rod, dog and clip lengths, in the planing of the switchpoints and incorrect positions of the stock rails. Since switch operating mechanism oftenhave throws greater than the switch throw, it is necessary to provide a lost motion connection between the standard switch operating rod l8 and the switch. The invention handles. both ofthese adjustments simply and reliably.

It is thought that the manner of usin this invention will beapparent to those skilled in'the art from, the above description. Briefly, in order to adjust switch throw (length of switch rod l6),

vit-cis. necessary only toslackenofi on the main switch s uee nut and bolt assemblies and 32. remove sleeve nut coverand turn adjusting sleeve nut 33' until the proper distance between switchpoints l2, I3 is obtained. It will be understood that the clearance holes 85 in the channel splice bar z lpermits this adjustment. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the switch rod i6 is shown adjusted substantially to its maximum length. After the adjustment of length of switch rod IE it is only'necessary to replace sleeve nut cover 5| and tighten the main splice bolts 3| and 32. Of course, when a plurality of switch rods are used, similar adjustments must be made simultaneously with the adjustment just described.

' To adjust lost motion with'respect to operating rod l8, it is only necessary to slacken of! on the jamb nuts 45 and adjust the adjustment nuts 36, 3! at either or both ends'to set the switch properly up against its stock rail at each extreme position. The :lamb nuts 45 are then tightened. The adjustment of lock rod I9 on adjusting device is similar to that of operating rod IS on adjusting device 24 except that adjustment nuts 36, 31 will be adjusted tightly against the housings 29, because the lock rod should have the same movement as the switch.

Thus a simple and convenient unitary adjust-- ment is made possible both for switch throw and lost motion connection. The device suitably electrically insulates the switchpoints. The parts "are rugged in construction, are not likely to get out of order and can be conveniently adjusted. The parts are also-protected against the weather.

The close sliding fit at the cylindrical portions -39 between the sleeve nut 33 and the housings 29,

i30 strengthens the assembly, lessens the tendency to bend and reduces wearing of the screw threads. The channeling of the housings 29 and 30 and of the channel splice bar 28 provides recesses for the tops, bottoms, sides and ends of the switch rod members 26 and 21 thereby relieving the splice bolts of assemblies 3| and 32-from shear. This bolt and splice bar construction also relieves stresses on the turnbuckle adjustment.

. The use of'the sleeve nut cover. 5| and the outer projecting flanges 46 on the housings locks the turnbuckle sleeve nut 33 and also assists in protecting the parts from the weather. The use of vertical or edgewise. switch rods and the'horizontal relationship between the operating rod adjustment and switch rod adjustment places .all adjusting nutsin position easily accessible to adjusting tool and for inspection.-

MWhile certain novel features of the invention have beendisclosed herein, and are .pointed out in. the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: v 1. In a railroad switch rod adjustment, a pair .of switch rod members, a connecting assembly comprising a pair of housing members, a splice gb'ar, said housing members, switch rod members and splice vbar having openings, bolts passing through said openings, for connecting respective housing and switch rod members to said splice .bar, a sleeve having threaded connection with said housing members to provide turnbuckle adjust- 'ment for adjusting the length of the switch rod,

a connecting rod passing through aligned openings in said housing members and said sleeve, said connecting rod having adjustment nuts for adjusting the connecting rod with respect to said connecting assembly, the openings in said splice passages in said housing members and turnbuckle sleeve; and adjustment nuts threaded on said connecting rod.

- 3. In a railroad switch rod adjustment, a pair 'o fswitch rod members of oblong cross section, said rod members being'disposed horizontally with their narrower sides directed upwardly, a channel splice b'ar having clearance holes, a pair of housings', said housings and said channel bar having oppositely disposed channel recesses for the respective switch rod members, each said housing having seats for receiving bolt shanks and undercut-portions for receiving bolt heads, a keeper between the bolt shanks for "holding the bolts in their respective seats, said bolts passing through said switch rod members and through said clearance holesin the channel splice bar, said bolts holding the aforesaid (members in clamped relationship, and additional means for adjusting the distance between said housings, said clearance holes being of greater dimension than the shanks of said bolts to permit said adjustment.

4. In a railroad switch adjustment, a pair of switch rod members, a connecting assembly comprising a pair of housing members connected respectively to saidswitch rod members, a splice bar connecting said rod members, adjusting means to adjust the distance between said housing members, bolts passing through said rod and housing members and through said bar and having clearance with said bar to permit adjustment of. said housing members when said bolts are loosened, and a connecting rod adjustably connectedto said assembly.

'5. In a railroad switch adjustment, a pair of switch rod members, a pair of housing members connected respectively to said switch rod members, asplice' bar connecting said rod members, said housing members and said splice bar having opposed channel recesses to house said rod members, 'said housing members having aligned openings, a turnbuckle having threaded engagement with said openings to adjust the distance between said housing members, bolts connecting the respective housing and rod members to said splice bar and having clearance with said splice bar to permit adjustment of said rod members when said bolts are loosened.

. 6. In a railroad rod adjustment, a pair of rod members, a pair of housing members connected respectively to said rod members, said housing members each having a longitudinal passage, a turnbuckle to adjust the distance between said housing members, said housing members each having a threaded portion and a cylindrical bearing portion fitting corresponding portions on said respectively tosaid rod members, said housing members each having an internally threaded longitudinal passaga an externally threaded turnbuckle sleeve havingv threaded engagement with said passages to adjust i distance-rbetween said housing members, a connectinge'rodrpassing through the aligned passages. in said 1 housing members and 'saidlsleeve', the .-:outer :ends. of said housing members having largeirecesseanadjustment "nuts threaded on saidzconnectingrod and seating in said'recesses;

8. 1m arailroad rodadjustment, a .pairuof .rod members, apair of housing members connected respectively -tosaid rodxmembers, said housing members eachlhaving a longitudinal ipassage, a turnbuckle sleeve having threaded engagement with saidpassages to adjust distance betweenlsaid housing members, said housing .members: each having a threaded portion and acylindrical bearing-portion fitting corresponding portionslon said turnbiwkle-- sleeve," an:- operating rod passing through the: aligned passages in "said. housings and said sleeve, the outer ends, .of "said. housing membershaving large recesses; adjustment nuts threaded on said operating: rod and seating "in sai'd recesses, and jamb nuts outside of said-.adjustment nuts.- 9. In a railroad track rod-adjustmentrod sections, a pair' of adjustment: housings one connected' to' each rod section, said. housings having aligned openings said openingsx each having a screw: threaded" portion, a turnbuckle having threaded po-rtions=fo'r providing: turnbuckle adjustrnent between said housings, said turnbuckle having a hex portion; said housings having aligned cylindrical portions, and a sleevetele scoping said cylindrical portions and having an internal hex surface fitting said turnbuckle hex portion.

10.- In-a.railroad track'rod adjustment, rodsections; achannelbar partially-surrounding said sections, a-pair of adjustment housings "one: for each rod section-bolts connecting :said'housings and 'rod -sections to said channel bar; said hous ings having'alignedopenings, said openings each having an internally screw threaded portion and a guide i portion; a sleeve having corresponding guide'portions andhxternally threaded portions engaging-said"internally threaded. portions for providing turnbuckle adjustment between said housings, saidbbltficonnected parts having clearanceopenings -around said bolts topermit'such adjustment, a connecting rod passing through said aligned openings, said-connecting rod hav in'g adjustment nuts; saidshousings having cylindr'ical clearance recesses for said adjustmentnuts, said sleeve having a -central flat sided portion, said housing "having aligned flanged portions and split sleeve-surrounding =saidflange portions and'having-an internal flatsurtace 'fitting said sleeve flat sided' portion;

11. In a railroad track rod adjustment, vertically disposed 'fiat rod sections, a vertically disposed channel bar partially surrounding said sections, a :pair of adjustment housings 'one for each rodsectio'n; horizontal bolts connecting said housingsand rod sections to said channel bar, said housings having aligned openings, said openings each having ascrew threaded portion and 'a guide portion, a-sleeve' having corresponding guide portions and threaded "portio'nsdor providing -turnibuckle adjustmentbetweensaid housings, said channel splice bar having clearanceflopenings around said 'bolts-to permit'such adjustment, an operating rod passingzthrough'said aligned open;- ings; said operating rod having adjustment nuts with rounded noses, said housings having cylin'e drical. clearance re cesses forrsaidadjustmentnuts, and: lamb i'nutscoutsideisofifsaid i'adjustment; nuts,

said; sleeve .--havi-ng a central hex portion;- said housings having alignedflanged portions. a spllt sleeve surrounding; said; flange: portions and haw ing an internal hex'surf ace fitting said sleeve hex portion,

12; In azrailroad track-rod, ahousing'having anopen face recess, the bOttOIlljOf said recess having-a depressionwithlaterally projecting flanges havingseats, bolts having their shanks in said seats -and.: their heads-under said flanges, a keeper positioned against said bolts, a rod section in said recessand. having openings through which said bolts 1 pass,-. and nuts on 'said-bolts to hold said rod section and housing together.

13. In a'railr oadtrack rod adjustmenta pair of? tracktrodmembers, a connecting assembly comprising a splice baron-.oneside of said track rod members and.:an adjustable'device-on the other -:side ofsaid track rod members, said-.rad-q justable 'devicecomprising ..a pair of anchor mem-.- bers with an adjustable member connectingqsai'd anchor-members to adjust the distance between said: anchor members, bolts clamping the'respece tiveanchor'and.track'rod members to said splice bar, and electric insulation; disposed [between said track rod members :and said connecting assembly.

14.- In arailroadtrack rod-adjustment, a pair of track rod members; a connecting, assembly comprising a splice bar on: one. sidersof said track rod members and an adjustable device on. the other side of said track. rodmembers; said adjustable device 2 comprising: a pairofanchor members with. an, adjustable'member connecting said-anchor. members'to adjust the distance between said 1 anchor membersbolts clamping the respectiveanchor and trackcrod members-to said splicebar. i

15. In a railroad track rod adjustment, rod sections,'a pair oftadjustment housings: one'rconnected to each rod section, saidjhousingszthaving aligned openings, said openings eachlhaving'a screw threadedportion,. alturn buckle' having threaded portions 'for providing turnbuckle .adjustment between said'h'ousing, said turnbuckle havinga polygonal wrench-engaging portion; said housings having aligned cylindrical portions, and asleeve telescoping said cylindrical portions and having an'internal polygonalsuriace fitting said turnbuckle polygonal portion; said sleeve and housing having interfitting lug and recess engagement permitting limited turning of 'said sleeve "with respect to said cylindrical portions through an angle corresponding to the angle between the surfaces of said polygonal portion.

16. In a railroad switch adjustment, a set of switch rails, aswitch rod comprising a set of switch rod members connecting said rails, each set of switchrod members having a longitudinal opening, a connecting assembly including said longitudinal openings, an externally threaded, rotatable adjusting sleevedisposed in said openings' and having screwthreaded engagement with at least one of said openings to adjust' switch rodlength, a connecting rod :passing through said adjusting sleeve axially thereof, andadjustable elements acting between said connecting rod and said assembly,"

17. Ina railroad:switch'adjustment, a pair/of switch: rodmem'loers connectable, to the switchpcints, a connecting, assembly comprising a pair of:.anchor members connected-respectively to said switch rod members, a'splice'bar connecting said rodi memberasaidtrod members, anchor memhers and splice lb'arrhaving aligned.;openings;.bolts 7 :passing throughsaid aligned :oneningsjztc connect corresponding anchor and switch rod members to said slplice bar and having clearance with said splice bar to permit adjustment of said anchor members and rod members with respect to said splice bar when said bolts are loosened, and adjusting means to adjust the distance between said anchor members.

18. In a railroad switch adjustment, switchpoints, a switch rod connecting said points and comprising a pair of comparatively fiat rod members disposed with their narrower sides facing upwardly, a threaded adjustable device connecting said rod members to adjust the distance between said rod members, a splice bar, said rod members and splice bar having aligned openings, horizontally extending bolts passing through said aligned openings for clamping the respective rod members to said splice bar.

19. In a railroad switch adjustment, switchpoints, a switch rod connecting said points and comprising a pair of comparatively flat rod members disposed with their narrower sides facing upwardly, a threaded adjustable device connecting said rod members to adjust the distance between said rod members, a splice bar, said rod members and splice bar having aligned openings, horizontally extending bolts passing through said aligned openings for clamping the respective rod members to said splice bar, said splice bar and adjustable device having opposed shallow channel recesses to house said rod members, certain of said openings having greater dimensions than the shanks of said bolts to permit said adjustment.

20. In a railroad switch, switchpoints, a switch rod connecting said oints and comprising a pair of switch rod members, a connecting rod for controlling the switch, a connecting assembly disposed intermediate the length of said switch rod and connecting said switch rod members together, said assembly having adjusting means to adjust the length of said switch rod, said assembly also having adjusting means for adjusting the relationship between said connecting rod and assembly, and electric insulation between said assembly and said switch rod members.

21. In a railroad switch adjustment, a set of switch rails, a switch rod comprising a set of switch rod members connecting said rails, an adjustment device connecting said rod members, said adjustment device comprising a pair of telescoping members each having a threaded por-- tion and a cylindrical bearing portion, said threaded lportions engaging each other to adjust switch rod length, said bearing portions engaging each other to reduce wear on the screw threads.

ALBERT F. HUBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,567 Grinberg June 4, 1907 887,802 Henderson May 19, 1908 1,068,144 Lawler et a1. July 22, 1913 1,159,319 Larry Nov. 2, 1915 1,161,599 Bossert Nov. 23, 1915 1,621,884 Hull Mar. 22, 1927 2,352,151 Holmes June 20, 1944 

